Improvement in raising and lowering torpedoes



2 Sheets-Sheet 14 I W. D. SMITH. Raising and Lowering Torpedoes.

No. 207,564. Patented Aug. 27, 1878.

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-' ATTORNEY NPETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAFMER, WASHINGTON D C- 2 Sheets-Sheet2.

n W, .1), SMITH, Raising and Lowering Torpedoes ATTORN EYS fiyiiiiida MNPEI'EHS PROTGCITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C,

\VALTON DUANE SMITH, OF PROPHETSTOWN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE= UNITEDSTATE PA EN'T OFFICE.

HALF HIS RIGHT'TO A. J. WARNER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN RAISING AND LOWERING TORPEDOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,564, dated August27, 1878; application filed July 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTON DUANE SMITH, of Prophetstown, in the countyof Whiteside, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certainnew anduseful Improvements in Devices for Raising and Lowering Torpedoes andHarbor-Defenses; and do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,making a part of this specitication.

The nature of my invention consists in means for raising and loweringtorpedoes and other harbor and channel defenses by means of compressedair, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which-Figure 1 represents my invention when the torpedoes are lowered to, ornearly to, the bottom. Fig. 2 represents the same when raised to thedesired position.

A represents an iron cable or chain of sufficient weight to keep thewhole device permanently to its place on the bottom when the air is notapplied. B B are anchors attached to the chain. 0 G represent a seriesof air cylinders or receptacles for raising the device when the air isapplied, said cylinders being connected by hose or pipes D, and one ofthe cylinders being provided with a pipe, E, which is to run to anair-pump or other device for compressing the air, such device beinglocated at any convenient point.

F F represent the torpedoes, which may be connected directly to thecylinders, or indirectly by means of ropes a, as shown. These torpedoesare designed to be so ballasted that they will displace just a triflemore than their own weight of water, thus keeping them in the samerelative position to the rest of the device, whether the same is at restupon the bottom or raised to the full length of the anchor-ropes. Thedesign is to have the ropes or wires (0 of sufficient length so thatshould one of the torpedoes be exploded by a passing vessel the rest ofthe device will not be injured by the explosion.

This device must be used in such places where there is sufficient depthof water, so that the torpedoes will be out of the way of pass ingvessels when the device is lying upon the bottom; but the cable withoutthe torpedoes would alone be a serious obstacle to an enemys vessel bydisabling her rudder or screw or both.

When it is desired to raise the device to obstruct the passage of anenemy, the compressed air is applied at E, and, by means of the pipes D,enters the air-cylinders O at the top, as shown, thus displacing thewater by forcing it out at the orifices b in the bottoms of thecylinders. After enough air has been forced into the cylinders thedevice will begin to rise, and will finally assume the position shown inFig. 2.

To prevent the water from filling up the airspipe after the device islet down to the bottom again, the air is to be shut off as soon as thedevice reaches the bottom; or floating valves may be applied to theinlet ends of the air-cylinders, which will rise and fall with the waterwhen the air is forced in or drawn off, thus preventing the escape ofthe air after enough has been liberated to sink the device.

It is evident that any number of air-cylinders (from one upward) may beused and,instead of cylinders, I may use bags, to be ex panded by thecompressed air, or many other equivalent receptacles for compressed air.

This system of raising and lowering harbordefenses can also be appliedto buoys to designate to friendly vessels the locality of danger, and tobe lowered out of sight at the approach of an enemy.

I am aware that it is not new to construct a torpedo so as to be capableof elevation or depression under water at the will of the operator henceI do not claim such, broadly, as my invention. In my invention the riseof the torpedoes is limited by the anchoring device, and the torpedoesthen remain stationary at a certain depth in the water.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of one or more cylin ders or other receptacles withtorpedoes connected to them, an anchoring device, and suitable tubesconnecting with said cylinders, whereby compressed air may be suppliedto and withdrawn from the same, as and for the purposes herein setforth.

2. The combination of a series of air-eylin ders, C, with openings 1) intheir bottoms, and connected by pipes D, the cable A, anchors B,

torpedoes F, and air-supply pipe E, substantially as and. for thepurposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this13th day of June, 1878.

WALTON DUANE SMITH. Witnesses:

A. J. WARNER, HENRY R. Knvor.

